Some 95 people attended the annual gathering with main guest speaker Helen Fairbairn. Her talk gave ten reasons why "Hillwalking in Ireland remains her true love." contrasting walking here with a wide variety of venues abroad. The other speakers were Tom Kelly (Irish Times Gadget Man), Peter Walker, Simon Stewart and Simon Byrne.

The Annual Awards Ceremony saw awards for Rob Lee (First person under 21 to visit the Vandeleur-Lynams) and Simon Byrne (First person to complete the combined Arderins and Vandeleur-Lynams in a year and share GPS tracks for all routes used. There are photos below for the meeting., Certifiably Mad See report from Simon Byrne
MountainViews would like to acknowledge the generosity of Collins Press in supplying books for presentation to awardees.

These meetings are being organised by the WAI with the help of the MountainViews committee. Talks are held in the Landsdowne Hotel, 27 - 29 Pembroke Road, Dublin 4 unless otherwise stated. Entry is free unless otherwise stated. There is a collection. Directions here www.lansdownehotel.ie .
The excellent bar facilities allow you to have a drink with other hillwalkers after the event. You can get a meal before the meeting also. Should you wish to stay overnight then please consider staying with the Lansdowne.

Featured summitMullaghclogha - mist, snow and icy fence.
by Derry-Danderer
I walked Mullaghlogha recently despite some difficult conditions. I parked near the cattle grid at the top of the Park Rd as most other spots had grit and salt piles set in them. From here it was a quick walk to Learmount South and onwards to the big Mullagh following the fences as I went. Most of the fences seem to have been replaced recently so there was a clear track adjacent to it. Whilst this was welcome after gambling between what was solid snow and ice or thin ice covered calf-deep bog (which I found out twice the hard way) it definitely took away from the remoteness of the spot and a fair bit of the challenge.
The snow and sleet faded after i reached the top and started to descend- showing off Sawel, Dart, Binevenagh in the distance and much more inbetween.
The ice growing off the wire fence to create 3" open ice boxes was a highlight :-) I'll go back for the rest of the Mullaghs on a better day!

NORTH: Scarred by scramblers
Carnearney Hill in Antrim is another unfortunate victim of mountain bikers and scramblers.
group on Carnearny: Another case of bring the gaitors
Carnearney is a forest covered hill that only affords views on the approach roads or from one area of cleared forestry on its western slopes. It is popular with mountain bikers and scramblers, so the trails through the trees are churned up and very muddy in places. By parking at the forestry entrance at 176923, you can ramble along the forest track to a telecommunications mast, from where the smal ... Click here

NORTH: An unjustifiably neglected Bluestack
Boasting great views, a real sense of isolation and a rocky summit, it’s hard to beat Banagher, says Aidy.
Aidy on Banagher Hill: Unjustifiably Neglected Bluestack
With the weather forecast giving a dry morning turning to rain in the afternoon, I set off early for Banagher Hill, taking the road around Lough Eske. Turning north, with the lough to the west and Banagher to the east, I spotted a road/track branching off to the left, signposted as The Bluestack Way. It was rough and narrow, but passable by car, so I drove up it for a few hundred metres until I ... Click here

NORTH: Bird of a different feather
Hen Mountain is really just a rocky outcrop from co ck Mountain in the Mournes, but the gigantic boulders make it quite a spectacular one, recounts Peter Walker.
group on Hen Mountain: The Mournes in miniature
Hen Mountain is a conspicuous outlier of the Western Mournes, with steep slopes rising to a summit bristling with numerous spectacular granite tors, and it provides an excellent miniature summary of the huge appeal of this group of hills.
The summit would generally be reached at the beginning or climax of a longer hillwalk, linking as it does to the higher (but much less aesthetic) co ck Mountai ... Click here

WEST: A rewarding way to access the Reek
As an alternative to the well-trodden Pilgrim’s Path, Member Onzy suggests a route up Croagh Patrick’s little brother, the beautiful Ben Goran.
group on Ben Goram: A rewarding way to access the Reek
Park at L87542 80732 where there is room on the roadside for 3 cars, or further up opposite some farmhouses, we sought and recieved parking permission at the fifth house just before the road becomes a farm track. Cross a sheepwire fence heading roughly north east across an open field by a fence. The ground becomes steep and rough with rocks as you slowly gain height to the summit cairn. You can al ... Click here

WEST: Come on pilgrim...
Onzy has been over on the West coast traversing the little-known Croagh Patrick range and running up a substantial taxi fare ('almost worth it', apparently). The complete traverse of the ridge is probably the most satisfying route in these hills, seeing as it maximises the amount of time away from the inevitable crowds, barefoot or otherwise. With transport this is a half-day excursion...without, it could turn into the basis for a road movie.
Onzy on Croagh Patrick Traverse West to East
There are a few tracks with traverses of the main Croagh Pat walk, Length:9.1km, Climb: 757m, Area: Ben Goram, Croagh Patrick (Ireland) Ben Goram, Cr Click here

WEST: The early bird gets the sunrise
As discovered ShayGlynn, capturing a magnificent sunrise over a silent, snow covered Croagh Patrick.
ShayGlynn on Croagh Patrick: A great reward for an early start
I made an early start up the Reek last Saturday with the aim of getting the sunrise at the top. Even in the dark the path is very obvious and the head torch was only needed for a short while. It looked like I was out of luck when I arrived at a summit engulfed in cloud but just as I was giving up hope the mountain did its magic and the sun broke through leaving a blanket of cloud below. I spent a ... Click here

WEST: Within the woods...
Old favourites (although still probably the least-frequented of the higher Dingle mountains) are Stradbally Mountain and Beenoskee. The northern approach from Glenteenasig has long been considered the most straightforward approach, and I'm mentioning DenisMc's track from this direction to highlight the fact that recent forestry operations hereabouts have rendered it even more amenable. This is wonderful walking country, less overtly dramatic than Brandon but much quieter and (slightly) less prone to fickle weather.
DenisMc on Beenoskee-Stradbally
An alternative route to Beenoskee, Stradbally from Glentanas walk, Length:9.4km, Climb: 631m, Area: Beenoskee, Central Dingle (Ireland) Beenoskee, St Click here

WEST: Big views from a small hill
Muckanagh Hill in N. Mayo is one of the lesser visited tops, but its relatively small height offers great views of Clew Bay and the Nephin Beg range, says paddyhillsbagger.
paddyhillsbagger on Muckanagh Hill: Big views, small hill.
Chose to start at GlenIsland cemetery and bottle bank car park at M07594 95838 beside the R312. Walked North for a few hundred metres and at the 2nd gate on the left started the short sharp climb to the top over rough tussocky and boggy ground. Fine views from the top over Beltra Lough to the Nephin Beg Range, Nephin itself as well as Clare Island in Clew Bay. Big views from a small hill! Click here

Featured track reportTara: Sublime megalithic embroidery from a training track.
I don't know whether to laugh, cry or applaud at this one. This is a training track generated by CaptainVertigo around Tara. We can tell he kept up a consistent high training pace because the track is brown, all the way. But what I really love is the spiralling turns around some of the features - obviously influenced by the megalithic stonework within the cairn. Tracks as art. Anyway here is CaptainVertigo's description:
This is the time of year when we all start to make plans, but, very often, vegetate in the process. A small hill 20 minutes away is worth a lot more than higher hills an hour and a half away.
Tara, universally reviled by the walking community, can provide an excellent training ground.CaptainVertigo on Tara: A longer Route
This is the time of year when we all start to make plans, bu walk, Length:12.7km, Climb: 148m, Area: Tara, East Coast (Ireland) Tara Click here

Whatever the length or terrain covered, please do submit suggestions for this "Featured Track" spot in future at admin@mountainviews.ie

SOUTH: Spectacular cloud inversion
A stunning new video by Dom Divilly shows an ascent of Cruach Mhór and as Captain Vertigo reports, shows the ‘higher Reeks floating like islands in a sea of cloud’.
CaptainVertigo on Cruach Mhór: A Dom Divilly Film
Dom Divilly says, in his intro:
"A beautiful route up from Eisc an Bharca gully to the summit of Cruach Mor then over the Big Gun to Cnoc na Peiste and down the ridge to the lake below then back to Cronins Yard,the gateway to the Reeks. John and Esther Cronin will look after you with tea,coffee,sandwiches,fruit cake,scones or lovely homemade soup.You can also purchase maps,books,walking poles and ... Click here

SOUTH: The Galtee Bounder
jackill has been playing with his trusty Trimble surveying device down in his ancestral home of the Galtees, starting from the south up the Black Road, fluttering his eyelashes in the direction of Galtybeg and Galtymore before spurning them in favour of finding out Greenane West's vital statistics. On this occasion he chose to continue to Greenane itself before retracing his steps; others may use the uplift to continue further east to the lower summits of the main ridge, or turn west over the highest tops towards Lyracappul; transport may be useful to regain the start.
jackill on Survey of Greenane West, no longer a marginal Arderin.
Accessing the summits of Greenane West and Greenane from the walk, Length:15.5km, Climb: 719m, Area: Greenane, Galty Mountains (Ireland) Greenane, Gr Click here

SOUTH: The Road(s) Less Travelled
Often folk care more about destinations than journeys, but that shouldn't be the case with thomas_g's track of his ascent of Pookeen's North Top down in the South-West, with his various false starts being afforded equal prominence with his final identification of the correct route; avoiding farmland is an entirely understandable incentive for devising your own route. This is a quick ascent (less than an hour) and there are plenty of other summiteering opportunities nearby.
thomas_g on The ways not to go.
Since I generally dislike crossing farmland, so I was determ walk, Length:3.9km, Climb: 187m, Area: Pookeen North Top, Shehy/Knockboy (Ireland) Pooke Click here

SOUTH: A view in a million
A new short summary for Knockmulanane in Central Dingle, which offers unparalleled views in all directions, reports jackill.
group on Knockmulanane: A view in a million
Park in the large car park at the Connor pass.
Cross the main road and head due east uphill following a distinct track for 200 meters, leave this track as it swings sharply south and continue uphill and east, skirting cliffs to your left side.
You will come to a small semicircle of stones at about 620 mtrs elevation , pick up a low stone wall and follow it to the unmarked summit of Slieveanea ab ... Click here

EAST: The Magic Road
It would seem that the inimitable CaptainVertigo may have accidentally or deliberately invented a whole new facet of walking with his extraordinary track collected whilst exploring Tara. I don't think anyone would suggest that his route constitutes the most efficient way of exploring this seat of kings, but what he has created is a line on a map that looks like it was drawn on by a demented barista trying desperately to impress someone in the queue at Starbucks. Can anyone else do any better? Maybe the Captain should turn his hand to crop circles.
CaptainVertigo on Tara: A longer Route
This is the time of year when we all start to make plans, bu walk, Length:12.7km, Climb: 148m, Area: Tara, East Coast (Ireland) Tara Click here

EAST: Lesser known Blackstairs
Bran Scultair in the Blackstairs is one of the lesser climbed hills, but is well worth the trek, recounts Member Kennyj.
Kennyj on Bran Scultair: Lesser known Blackstairs
Climbed Bran Scultair yesterday taking in Carrigroe and Carriglachan as well.Following the road out of Rathnure from Killanne I took the first right hand turn,then right at the next junction and then left onto Ballybawn lane.Follow this narrow road to its end there is parking for two or three cars just at a bridge over a tributary of the river Boro.I then followed the forest track uphill ignoring ... Click here

EAST: So Sally can't wait...
tbaines has been entertaining himself in Wicklow with a brisk trot around the hills lining the SW side of the Sally Gap. It's a circuit visiting six summits, but with potential for from two (easily) to five (more strenuously, by including Tonelagee and its satellites) more. Only a smidge of road walking spoils what would be a cracking leg stretcher for the reasonably fit on a clear day.
tbaines on Central Wicklow Circuit
Circuit, starting at the car park 2km south of the Sally Gap run, Length:23.2km, Climb: 1221m, Area: Carrigvore, Dublin/Wicklow (Ireland) Carrigvore, Click here

EAST: Wicklow above the clouds
Member tbaines snapped a spectacular shot of cloud inversion across the Wicklow Mountains from the summits of Carrigvore.
tbaines on Carrigvore: Cloud inversion
Start of a circuit above the clouds (Out to East Top, down the Inchavore Valley, and back via Luggala - see tracks). Cloud inversion nearly all day, warm in the sun, cold in the valleys. Some of the ground helpfully frozen. Click here

ICELAND: Martin 'n' Sharron's Gone to Iceland
MV's first couple of video equipment and exotic getaways have ventured over to the land of Sigur Ros and the late Magnus Magnusson, returning with some off-the-chart film footage of ice and steam and excited water, and a track describing the route to Hengifoss, one of Iceland's highest waterfalls. In the conditions under which mcrtchly and kernowclimber undertook the 'walk' it requires crampons but in summer this would be considered a trail suitable for even the most moderately adventurous tourist.
mcrtchly on Hengifoss
Iceland has many excellent trekking routes. But in winter a walk, Length:5.4km, Climb: 394m, Area: Iceland, East () Click here

Sorry if we didn't mention what you posted .. there's a list of all contributors for the month later.

FURTHER NEWS & MOTLEY GATHERING

No map story this monthWe don't have a good map story for you this month, but came across this satellite photo of an astonishingly shaped island from the Chinese newsagency, Xinhanet. Maybe someone, perhaps with a knowledge of Chinese, could dig out where the picture is taken of. Click on the picture for information.

Iceland - Every single state of H2O and some extraordinary exterior decorating decisions. Otherworldly.
[ED: In my view this is the best video that I have seen from Martin and Sharron. The music (synchronised at times with the view), the variety of landscapes and perspectives, the considered compositions, the technical command of the different types of shot, the editing combine to provide a moving 12 min video. Niggles? Very few though I wondered about overall structure towards the last quarter and there were occasional depth of field issues.]

(mcrtchly)

Videography by Peter Walker.

VIDEO:
Original video by Bradleylinemihler
CaptainVertigo on Caherbarnagh: A Bradleylinemihler Movie
A great introduction to Caherbarnagh by Bradleylinemihler Click here

VIDEO:
Original video by Dom Divilly
CaptainVertigo on Cruach Mhór: A Dom Divilly Film
Dom Divilly says, in his intro:
"A beautiful route up from Eisc an Bharca gully to the summit of Cruach Mor then over the Big Gun to Cnoc na Peiste and down the ridge to the lake below then back to Cronins Yard,the gateway to the Reeks. John and Esther Cronin will look after you with tea,coffee,sandwiches,fruit cake,scones or lovely homemade soup.You can also purchase maps,books,walking poles and ... Click here

WEBSITE NEWS

New page "Lists, Complietion and Awards"
It does what it says on the tin: that is outline the list family that MV has and for those interested in summiteering and awards explains what MV does in that area also.

mountainviews.ie/complietion/Reminder re photos.
We learnt recently about the nuisance of not being able to directly upload photos from a camera to MV where the pixel size of the picture exceeed the old limit (about 2 Megapixels). This restriction has now been removed.
simon3 on Uploading large photographs - no downsize
If you upload a picture with a mountain comment, forum, short summary etc it used to be necessary to reduce the picture in size to have less than about 2 Megapixels. This is a nuisance for some people who wanted specifically to upload pictures direct from their cameras which often had output megapixels as much as 30. This restriction has now been removed. You can upload pictures to much larger s ... Click here

Exploration

Leinster calling...Leinster calling......

Fergalh in Dublin Mtns above Manor Kilbride

After recovering from major back surgery in March 2011 and having undergone extensive physiotherapy and weights and swimming, my consultant and physiotherapist told me I should start walking as much as possible. And so I did. I started off my walking along the length of the Royal canal and after a while I was given the go ahead to do some of the Waymarked trails and as these cover some low climbs and having liked the challenge of that. I asked the questions ? Can I climb mountains ? Will the surgeon allow me ? Will my back be able to take it ? Will i be physically strong enough ? Will I be mentally strong enough ? And finally on July 30th 2011 they said yes, now you are fit enough and able to climb, slowly at first but more as time goes on. I was overjoyed now I can and will climb.

July the 31st was a momentous day as myself and my friend Ewelina joined the Slieve Bloom Hill walking group on a five hour circular walk which included the Clear lake and Arderin Mountain which officially was the first mountain i climbed in Leinster since the operation. Little did i realise what was to follow !!!! For just under two years I concentrated with a few different hillwalking groups in Ulster, Munster, Leinster and Connaught to climb as many over 500 Metres as I could and then one day whilst researching a climb I came across the absolute wonder that we all know as Mountainviews.ie...now the sky was literally the limit !!!

Tory Hill cross

Hills and mountains everywhere, all shapes and all sizes. So after logging in and filling in what i had already climbed, i than started on my first target mainland Leinster...187 in total and than I started to bag, bag, bag, bag and bag again.

Leinster is divided between 9. subdivisons : 1. Cooley/Gullion 2. North Midlands 3.South Midlands 4. Blackstairs 5. East Coast 6. Dublin/Wicklow 7. North Wexford 8. South Wexford and the sadly neglected 9. Slieve Blooms
However both North and South Midlands and Cooley/Gullion have a number mountains in their list outside of Leinster, but they were bagged along the way anyways. Dublin/Wicklow of course has the most (116) climbs with some highlights and some lowlights there as well !

Finally after toil, struggle, wind, rain, cold, warmth, snow, sunshine and everything in between I finished my last mountain in Leinster with the climb of mighty Monabrogue in County Kilkenny on the 11th August 2014.

I would of course like to thank all those who helped, hindered and accompanied me along the way on top of the mountains on the slopes and just people I met all over Leinster with special mention to the dynamic duo in Mountainviews : Onzy and Eamonoc

Astonishingly the history includes nearly 40 lists and that before the year 2000. There are a few more he hasn't included as yet (though he plans to I gather) including County Highpoints and some MV lists which started in 2002. The history is interesting from a number of points of view and shows a progression in terms of comprehensiveness and accuracy in line with the improving maps of Ireland.

MountainViews believes that for summiteering to become a mass activity or discipline of hillwalking, a degree of selection is required to present a coherent family of lists. We also believe that the state of the art for lists goes well beyond the basic geography of early lists and should include as accurate hill-surveying as necessary, cultural information such as all names including those in Irish, geology, summarised data about available routes and a framework of appropriate area names.

Additionally ongoing maintenance is a requirement of a modern list in our view. MountainViews now has a system for allowing any member to suggest improvements to its lists (Propose Places Database Change) which over time will, we believe, ensure accuracy and comprehensiveness. Additionally MountainViews website presents list data in the context of a huge amount of crowd-sourced comments, ratings, photos, videos and GPS tracks.

Nevertheless, do take a look at this history of lists and be amazed. You can also see Myrddyn's Blog HereA Guide to Ireland's Mountain Summits - The Vandeleur-Lynams & The Arderins
MountainViews first book available online and in many bookshops. The first reprint with numerous minor amendments is now out.

simon3 on A Guide to Irelands Mountain Summits
MountainViews first book available online and in many bookshops.

As members will know, for over a decade, Mountainviews.ie has been providing unique information to hillwalkers on all aspects of exploring and enjoying Ireland's upland areas. It's been a collaborative effort by over 1000 of you, and currently contains over 6000 comments on 1057 mountains and hills on the island of Ireland ... Click here
Bulk sales to groups such as Scouts/ Guides: contact admin@mountainviews.ie for a discounted price.

Simon Byrne receiving books, courtesy Collins Press and finally Simon Byrne receiving a special framed award for the combined Arderins and Vandeleur-Lynam complietion in less than a year.
All photos this year courtesy, jackill who brought his own camera with flash.

Summary.
MountainViews now has 7311 comments about 1323 different hills & mountains out of the total in our current full list (1387). We want to get a good gps track showing each of the major ways up every summit in Ireland. If you see an option to add a "Short Summary" then do please consider creating one since another objective is to have a short summary for every summit in Ireland. There's a few (64) opportunities for you to be the first to comment on a summit.

NOTICES

Notices

If you are contributing, please be careful to respect the interests of landowners.
Suggest access routes well away from houses, gardens or that could conceivably impact farming activities. When walking, keep away from gardens or farm buildings. Use stiles or gates wherever possible. Never do anything that could allow animals to roam where the farmer did not intend. Ask permission where appropriate.

Report suspicious activity to the police forces, as below.

If your car is broken into in an upland area report it to the PSNI or Gardai as this will help them be aware of the issue and tackle it in future. Store the numbers. In Northern Ireland use the PSNI non-emergency number 0845 600 8000. In the Republic you can find the local Garda District HQs phone numbers at www.garda.ie/Stations/Default.aspx. Specifically for the hotspot of Wicklow: the Garda Divisional Headquarters in Bray is 01 6665300.

If you hear of a problem area or route, write it up in MountainViews
which does everyone a service.
Report rubbish tipping in the Republic - ring EPA hotline 1850 365 121
Report quads in national park area (in which they are banned). For Wicklow please phone the Duty Ranger: 087-9803899 or the office during office hours Telephone: +353-404-45800. Put these numbers in your phone, take regs etc. Let MV know of contact numbers for other areas.

If you have climbed some of the less well known places, we would appreciate a summit rating and also GPS readings for summits.

If we can, let's make MV have more than one route up a summit so as to reduce the tendency for paths to appear. Your grid refs in comments for different starting points show up on MountainViews maps as well as GPS tracks.

MountainViews are on Twitter as MountainViewsIE. Follow us and we will follow you back. Any queries to secretary@mountainviews.ie

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